Companies today face intensifying pressures—from surging electricity demand and water shortages, to shifting policies and regulations, to a rise in megamergers. How companies handle these pressures matters to their bottom lines—and to shareholder value.
Those living in poverty in Eastern Kentucky, and Central Appalachia generally, deal with chronic and serious challenges. Much progress has been made in tackling poverty in Appalachia over the past 50 years, but pockets of severe rural poverty remain, particularly in Eastern Kentucky. While the average poverty rate in the 54 counties of Appalachian Kentucky fell from 60% in 1960 to 26% in 2010, rates are still high compared to the national average of 16%. Rates exceed 30% in more than a dozen counties, including those served by Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) programs.
While it often feels like one individual’s actions doesn't have an impact on the big picture, the truth is that we all have the power to make a difference and influence change. In fact, the majority of giving (at least 71% of total annual donations) is from individuals. Through our work at America’s Charities, we empower individuals and organizations to support causes they care about, and we do this to bring more resources to the nonprofits that are changing our world.
People ask us all the time why Fairfax County needs a food bank. Just do the math. In 2015, Fairfax County had a median family income of $129,538 a year. The average housing rental cost was $1687 a month. The poverty level for a family of four is now $24,600 a year. And, of course, the national minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour.
Every day, millions of Americans have to sacrifice food, education, and healthcare because the cost of housing is so high. The numbers are grim: only one out of every four households who needs housing assistance gets it; more than one in four renters pays more than half of their income on housing costs; and nationwide waiting lists for affordable housing are years long. Many lists aren’t even open to new applicants because the backlog is so enormous.
At the beginning of every school year, many eager children sit in the front of the classroom armed with No. 2 pencils, wide-ruled paper and all of the other supplies needed for success. Some students never have to worry about not having access to the materials needed for class. However, that is not the case for many children around the U.S.
Visa has made a three-year financial commitment to help the Universal Postal Union, which is the primary forum for cooperation in the global postal system, advance financial inclusion through its new Financial Inclusion Technical Assistance Facility. Of the world’s 661,000 post offices, 91 percent offer some form of financial services, and the UPU aims to increase the number of payment accounts held by posts by 250 million by 2020.
Disrupting food sounds almost ominous. The purists among us likely do not feel there’s much of a need to innovate their favourite steak or to reinvent the way we eat in pubs, restaurants or canteens. But the food industry is a sector in need of a sea change. This has a lot to do with the way food is produced – the question being whether the industry can adapt to meet the needs of a constantly growing global population in a sustainable fashion.
Chuck Serianni has been recognized as CFO of the Year by the Arizona Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI). The CFO of the Year award is given to chief financial officers who have demonstrated outstanding financial management and promote a better understanding of the role of finance in the business world.
Businesses across Virginia are commending Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s proposed rule that would cut carbon dioxide emissions from the Commonwealth’s electricity sector by 30 percent between 2020 and 2030.
The McAuliffe Administration will present their proposal to the State Air Pollution Control Board later today in Richmond.
“Fossil fuel divestment is both ethically and fiscally responsible,” said John A. Lanier, executive director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and one of Ray’s five grandchildren. “Investment has consequences, and we intend for our assets to grow by fueling renewable energy and other clean technologies that will combat climate change.”
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator with a clear purpose to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. See how embedding...
AEG embraces its responsibility to enrich the lives of people in the communities around the world where we do business, and to use business to create...